Film-winding mechanism for cameras



I I Sept 1927' 'L. w. LESSLER ET AL 642 818 FILM WINDING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS INVENTOR LEV #1 45mm. CARL AfiOR/VN N 1 Sept. 20, 1927. 1, .818

L. W. LESSLER ET AL FILMWINDING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS Original Filed March 13, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LEV mzssma C'A/ZL A. BOR/YNANN.

BORN/*7 NE Y Iii-A IN VEN TOR L Eh I/ LESSLLR CA A TT pt 927 1.. w. LESSLER ET AL FILM WINDING MECHANISM FQR CAMERAS Original Filed March 13, 1926 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI CE.

LE w. Lir'ssLEn, or Johnson 'oirY, either ant, A. Bonivjirfa'nn, or nrivenhivrron lvnw YORK, ASSIGNORS TO ANSCO rno'rornonnors, INC., F BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

FILM- INDING iaiionAivrsivr non CAMERAS.

Original application filed March 13, 19a, Serial no. 94,496. Divided and this application filed October This application. is. a. division our. co.- pending application Serial No. 94,496 filed March 13, 1926.

Our invention relates to photographic 4; cameras and particularly to. a camera which 1-1.! of events wherein it. is desired to take a great many pictures in succession and insequence without beingrequiredto stop every little wiile and change the film in. the camera, In other words, the camera, though in small in construction, is provided with means for accon'imodating a rollof film upon which may be exposed or 100 or even more pictures on one loading, V

The ordinary standard moving picture o film is preferably used-inthis improved camera, although of course thecamera ,need not be limited to such film. The pictures pro duced by this camera are especially adapted for reprinting on a secondstrip of positive film from which they may-be projected upon a screen in an enlarged form by any suitable projecting lantern. 4

The principal object of our invention is provide ,the camera with a simple and elficient film winding device which is quick acting by means of a slidin'g control lever, and which contrQls the regulaiywinding and spacing of the film as it is drawn from the supply spool to the take up spool in the camera. This windingmechanism included besides an ingenious arrangement. for compensating for the varying diametersot the spools, a clever numbering arrangement which, visible through the side of the cam- I era, indicates to the operator the number of exposures which have beenmade.., I

The construction and mounting ofthis indicator or counter forms another object of this; invention. I

lvlany other details on thiscamera are the result of further objects and advantages of the invention and all contribute tothe production of a small, compact, simple opera ing and efficient picture taking machine of the character described. p

I In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts Figure l is a perspective view of our improved camera assembles.

,1 Figure 10 isa section taken on the Serial No. 142,003.

0 Figure2 is side viewflofithe. camera, with parts being broken away foruclearness in illustrating the winding mechanism FigureIZ-l is a rear view of the camera with the back removed showing-the winding mechanism in assembled position and illustrating in dotted lines the film within the camera.

Figured is asideview of the camera, parts being broken-awayto show in -assembled relation the spool carriage within the camera and the operation of the presser pad carried by the back .on the film as it is wound through thecamerarw I hFigure 5.is .a detail perspective viewcof theirame or partition carrying the winding mechanism.

. F igurefi is a detail side view showing the winding mechanism for. the .film.

Figure 7 isa-detailsectional view taken onthe line 77 of Figure 6. .n.

Figure. 8 is. adetail view similar to F igure 6. with certainparts being omittediior clearness. of illustration. Figure 9 is av'detail. perspective of the indicator or counter disks.

line 10.l0 Of Figure 9.1 1

Referring now more. particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, wherein we have indicated, generally our .camera, by the ref.- erence numeral 1, 2 represents the carrying handle therefor, suitably secured to either side of the camera. as by 1means of, the brackets 3.. The front plate 4 of the camera is secured tov the body as by means of screws 5 and is provided centrally with a cover piece 6 surrounding an opening 7 through which the exposure is made. The upper end 8 ,of the shutter operating lever projects through anopening in the top 9 of the camera for ready manipulation. I

A focusing, lever 10, which. also serves; as a pointer operating over the focusing scale 11,. suitably secured to the sideof the camera, provides means for focusing ithe shutteu' carried, within. the gcamera -z The --focusirng scale i-sprovided with an indentation orrecess 12 at the point of approximate universalfocus, whereby the, end of the pointer l0 may be ifrictionally held --in such position. The button 13 isthe outer end gof a key pin for; cooperating. with theg-filnicspool, the details of which will be described later.

The side 69 of the camera is provided centrally with an aperture 14 through which are visible the adjacent edges of indicator or counter disks 15 bearing the indicating numerals 16. A knob or button 17 provides means whereby the operator may set the indicator to zero or to any desired number. The details of this mechanism will be described more fully later.

is provided a recess 18 which is elongated vertically to provide a pathway for the projecting end 19 of the lever which controls the film winding mechanism. 7

The back 20 of the camera is held in position by means of the sliding catch 21 carried by the top of the camera and cooperating I with the pins 22 carried by the back.

A collapsible direct view finder 28 is located on top of the camera for the proper location and centering of the objects to be photographed.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that a partition plate 29 .is provided adjacent one side of the camera a compartment for the mechanism which winds the film from one spool to another. This mechanism will now b described. Re ferring particularly to Figure 8 of the drawing, it will be noted that upon the inner side of the partition plate 29 there is slidably mounted. as by means of a. pin and slot connection and 71, the reciprocating slide 72. This slide is offset at 7 3 so that the portion 74 of the slide is spaced from the partition plate 29, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. Another slide 75 parallel with the portion 74, and secured thereto pivotally as at 76,1ies flush against the inner surface of the partition 29. This is clearly shown in Figure 6. An ear 77 is turned downwardly from the upper flange of the partition plate 29 and a second ear 78 is formed on the slide 72. A coil spring79 (see Figure 6) has an end secured to each of the these ears and normally holds the slide 72 with its offset portion 74 and the slide 75 in their uppermost position. The screw finger piece 19, referred to in connection with Figure 1, is positioned at the upper end of the slide portion 74 and projects outwardly through the recess 18 in the side 69 of the camera box. It

is/by means of this screw finger piece that Near the upper rear corner of this side of the camera in a manner to wind the film from one spool to another.

It should be noted here that the partition plate 29 intermediate its ends and at a point opposite the edge of the path ofthe film is provided with a cut out portion 80. The material from this cut out portion is bent outwardly at'right angles forming a guide 81 (see Figure 5). The slide 75 carries an outstanding lug or arm slidably along the surface of the guide 81. This lug is indicated by reference character 82 and has its free end bent at right angles over and projecting beyond the edge of the guide 81. This free end 83 is provided with spaced teeth 84 adapted to engage within the perforations 85 of the film 86 and upon reciprocation of theslide 75 .to draw. said lilm downwardly from the upper or supply spool. Theslide 75 is pivotally mounted tothe slide 74 at the point 76 and is normally maintained in its outward or film engaging a-osition b means of the coil suin 85 secured at one end to the lug 86 carried by the slide 75. above its )ivot and secured at its lower end to the upper free end 87 of a pivotedlever or dog 88 (see Figure 6). It will be noted that the upper sides of the teeth 84 are bevelled and as the slide 75 is carried upwardly on its return stroke by the spring 79, these bevelled edges of the teeth 84 engage the film between the perforations and are forced inwardly thereby past the edge of the guide 81 until the slide 75 reaches its normal position, whereupon the teeth 84 will be forced into engagement with an adjacent pair of perforations in the film,the spring 85 causing such engagement.

As discl-osed in Figure 4, the back 29 of the camera is provided with a longitudinal leaf spring 85, guided by pins 85. The spring carried centrally thereof, a presser pad 86 which engages resilientlyagainst the film 86 as it passes over the end of the housing 27 of the spool carriage. The presser pad 86 is suitably provided with an elongated slot (not shown) for permitting the passage of the teeth 84 to pass therethrough when in engagement with the film perforations.

The lever 88 is pivoted to the slide 74 at free rotation thereof and to prevent it turning in but one direction.

The disk 94 is rotatably and slidably lt l) lit) spool engaging or disengaging position.

mounted upon a shaft 96 terminating at its outerv end, after passing through the side of the camera, in the turn button-18 as shown in Figure 1. Referring now to Figure 7, it will be noted that the partition 29 is provided with a bushing ,97 and a central opening through which passes the shaft 96. The shaft 96 carries at its inner end a key pin 98 for engaging within the key slot in the adjacent end of the film spool, whereby upon rotation of the shaft 96, said spool will also be rotated.

This shaft 96 is also provided adjacent its inner end with shouldered recesses 99, within which engages a small resilient spring 100, whereby said shaft is frictionally held in itis shouldered portion 101 is keyed to the shaft 96 as at 102 for rotary motion therewith and to permit sliding motion of the shaft 96 with respect thereto. Between one of the shoulders 103 of this bushing and a Washer 104 is rotatably mounted the disk 94. Also secured upon the bushing 101 and having frictional engagement against the outer disk 104 is a spring washer 105. This washer, as clearly shown in Figure 7, is provided with integral resilient spring tongues 106 which bear against and act as a brake upon the disk 94. I

This friction arrangement permits a slippage between the driving disk 94 and the film spool whereby to compensate for the varying diameter of the take up spool as the film is wound thereon. In other words, this connection prevents more than the required amount of film being wound upon the take up spool as said spool is rotated by means of the shaft 94.

It will be apparent that when the operator presses downwardly upon the pin or thumb piece 19, theslide 72, together with the raised portion 74 thereof, and the slide 75, will be moved downwardly, during which movement the teeth 84 carried by the slide will engage and pull downwardly section of fihn equal to the width of the exposure. At the same time, the pivoted lever 88 will engage with the disk 94, which because of its frictional engagement with the shaft 96, will rotate the spool to take up the film so pulled, and the spring 7 9 will then return the slides to their normal position. v

lVit'h reference now to Figures 2,9 and 10, a novel form of indicator or counter device for cooperatingflwith the film moving mechanism has been illustrated and'the construction of which will now be described; The partition 29 is provided with two openings, 107, within which are mounted the bushings l0 8'and 109. These bushingsare centrally recessed toreceive the pins 110 anld 111 provided at one end with the disks 15 bearing the indicating numerals 16 The opposite ends of the pins 110211101 111 are" provided "with washers 112 lying-within the countersunk portions 113 of the bushings 108 and 109, therebybrihgih'g the washers substantially ilush with the plane of the partition 29. p The pin 110 is provided with a toothed disk 114 keyed thereto. A spring washer 115 lies between the disk 114 and the bush ing 108, and a spaced washer 116 lies between the disk 114 and the counter disk 15.

I The pin 111 is also provided with a toothed disk 117 lying in a plane offset from that of the toothed disk 114. Also secured to the pin 111 between the toothed disk 117and the bushing 109is a prong or finger 118 ongageable at each revolution of the pin 111 with one of the teeth of the disk 114'. It will be understood therefore, that upon each complete revolution of the pin 111, the disk 114 will be advancefda distance of one'tooth. A spring washer 119 lies between the bushing 109 and the face of'the finger member 118,

and the spacer washer 120 lies between the toothed disk 111 and disk 15. I

The pin 111 also carries at its outer end, projecting through the sidewall 69 of the camera, the finger button 17 whereby the disk may be rotated by hand, and set to any given point of indication on the disks 15, visib'lethro'ugh the opening 14 shown in the side of the camera in Figure 1.

Referring moreparticularlynow to Figures 2 and 8, it will be observed that pivoted to the sliding member 74 intermediate its ends at 121,- is a lever 122, havingone end 123 engageab'le against a fixed ear or log 124 turned up from the edge of the slide member 74. The opposite end 125 of this lever occupies horizontal position, and the pointed nose" 126' thereof lies in a plane the same as that occupied by the toothed disk 117 on the pin 111. It will be understood, therefore, that as the slide member 74 is moved downwardly, the nose 126 will engage with a tooth on the disk 117 rotating such the adjacent counter disk and the pin 1111 together with the in dicating'lor counter disk 15, the space-of one tooth. It will also be noted that as the nose 126 engages with the tooth on the" disk 117, such engagement will be due to the fact that the" opposite end of 'the lever 122 engages rigidly with the lug 124. Upon the upward movement of the slide 74, however, should the end 125 of the lever 122 engage part, the lever 122 will rock on its pivot 1 21 thereby' allowin'g the" no se 126 to pass such obstruction freely. A small leaf spring 127 is aficlioredat one end as at 128' to the lowerv end of the slide 74 and engages at its opposite end with the end 125 of the lever 1221 This sprin normally urges the lever to the position shown in Figure 8' or to tooth eng a'gementpesitiofi.

mm the foigtarg; a, will te' un'deraeioa ice I ures 33 and 4i. at 129 and the take up spool at 130. Briefly, the operation of the novel film winding mechanismand indicator above described is as follows:-

After making an exposure on the film 86, the operator pushes downwardly on the finger piece 19, which. moves downwardly in the slot 18. This downward motion causes the slide member 72 to which the finger piece 19 is attached to also vmove downwardly guided by the pins in the slot 71. As the slide member moves, down, the pivoted slide 75 also moves downwardly carrying with it the angular lug 82 and the teeth 8-1 which, operating through the opening in the partition 29, engage within the perforations 85 of the film 86 causing such film to move downwardly over the exposure opening in the film carriage 27. iiimultaneously with this movement of the film, the lever 88 carried by the slide member 7 1- in its downward movement engages with a tooth on the disk 94- causing it to rotate, which in turn through the key shaft 96 rotates the take up spool 130 to wind the film thereon. If, due to the large diameter of the take up spool, it does not require the complete movement of the spool imparted to it by the lever 88, to wind the film pulled off of the supply spool, the friction clutch mechanism illustrated in Figure 7 will tunetion to compensate for this.

Also upon the downward movement of the slide 72, the lever 122 engages with a tooth on the disk 117 causing it to rotate the distance of one tooth to bring anew indicating number on the disk 15 into position through the window 1 1 in the side of the camera to indicate the number of exposures that have been made.

Of course, many changes in details of construction and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. We do not limit ourselves therefore to the exact structure shown and described other than by the appended claims.

We claim 2- 1. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided on said support, means normally urging saidslide in one direction, a finger-piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, and means on said slide and extending through said support to and engaging film strip for moving the same.

2. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided on said support, a portion of said slide being oils et from said support, meansinor mally urging said slide in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, and a plate pivoted to the under side of said ofifset portion, and having teeth extending through said support to and engaging filmstrip for moving the same;

3. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided on said support, a portion of said slide being oftset from said support, means normally urging said slide in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, and a plate pivoted to the under side of said otlset portion, and having teeth extending through said support to and engaging film strip for moving the same, said plate beingresiliently urged to such film engaging position. i I

A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon, a portion of said slide being offset from said support, means normally urging said slide in one direction, a finger piece for moving the same in the opposite direction, a pl pivoted to the underside otsaid offset portion and lying adjacent said' support,

sailL support being provided with an .aperture covered by said pivoted plate, and film engaging means carried by said'plate and extending through said aperture to and engaging film strip for moving the same. I

5. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon, a portion of said slide being offset from said support, means normally urging said slide in one direction, a finger piece for moving the same in the opposite direction, a plate pivoted to the underside of said otfi set portion and lying adjacent said support, said support being provided with an aperture covered by said pivoted plate, and film engaging means carried by said plate and extending through said aperture to and engaging film strip for moving the same said film engaging me ans comprising a finger rigid with said pivoted plate and provided at its free end with spaced teeth parallel with said plate.

6. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon, a portion of said slide being offset from said support, means normally urging said slide in one direction, a fingerpiece for moving the v same in the opposite direction, a plate pivoted to the underside ofsaid ofi'set portion and lying adjacent said support, said support being provided with an aperture covered by said pivoted plate, and film engaging means carried by said plate and eX- tending through'said aperture toand engaging film strip for moving the same said film engaging means comprising a finger rigid with said pivoted plate and provided at its free end with spaced .teeth parallel with said plate, and a guide for said finger and teeth formed from the material struck up from said aperture in the support.

7. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon, aportion of said slide being offset from said support, means normally urging said slide in one direction, a finger piece for moving the same in the opposite direction, a plate pivoted to' the underside of said offset portion and lyingv adjacent said support, said support being provided with an aperture covered by said pivoted plate, and film engaging means carried by said plate and extending through said aperture to and engaging film strip for moving the same said film engaging means comprising a finger rigid with said pivoted plate and provided at its free end with spaced teeth parallel with said plate, and a guide for said finger and teeth formed from the material struck up from said aperture in the support, said teeth normally projecting beyond the edge of said guide.

8. A film winding. mechanism for cameras comprising, a support, a slide guided there on, a portion of said slide being offset from said support, means normally urging said slide in one direction, a finger piece for moving the same in the opposite direction, a

plate pivoted to the underside of said offset portion and lying, adjacent said support, said support being provided with an aperture covered by said pivoted plate, and film engaging means carried by said plate and extending through said aperture to and engaging film strip for moving the same said film engaging means comprising a finger rigid with said pivoted plate and provided at its free end with spaced teeth parallel with said plate, and a guide for said finger and teeth formed from the material struck up from said aperture in the support, said teeth normally projecting beyond the edge of said guide, and spring means connected to said pivoted plate for permitting said teeth to be forced back from said projecting position in one direction of movement of said slide.

9. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and normally urged in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, means carried by said slide and extending throughsaid support toy and engaging film strip for moving the same a winding key on said support, a toothed disk trictionally secured to'said key, and means on said slide for engaging and rotating said disk,

10. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and normally urged in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in theopposite direction, filmengaging and movingmeans carried by said slide and eX-' tending through said support, a winding, key on said support including. a stem, a toothed disk rotatable on said stem, a spring washer rigid with said stem and trictionally engaging said disk whereby rotation of said disk normally causes rotation of said stem, and means carried by said slide and operative upon movement thereof in one direction, for rotating said disk.

11. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and normally urged in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, film engaging and moving meanscarried by said slide and extending through said support, a winding key on said supporti'ncluding a stem, a toothed disk rotatable on said stein, a spring washer rigid with said stem and provided with spring fingers engaging said disk whereby rotation of said disknormally causes rotation of said stem, and means carried by said slide and operative upon movement thereof in one direction for rotating'said disk.

12. A film winding'meclianism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and normally urged in oii'e'direction, a finger,

piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, film engaging and moving means carried" by said slide, a winding key on said support for engaging a film spool, and means on said slide for rotating said key at each. operationof said slide, said means compr1si s a i -v d g 1'3. Afilni windingmechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon .and normally urged in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, film engaging and moving means on said slide, a winding key journaled in said support for engaging a film spool, said key including a toothed driving disk, a

pivoted dog on said slide for engaging said disk and rotating the sameuponeach operation of the slide, and resilient means for normally urging said dog to disk engaging position.

14. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and normally urged in one direction a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, film engaging and moving means on said slide, a counting device on said support including tdothed wheels, and means on said slide engaging one of said toothed wheels upon each operation of said slide.

15. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and normallyurged in one direction, a finger piece for moving said slide in the opposite direction, film engaging and moving means on said slide, a counting device on said supiii) 'port including toothed wheels carrying dicator disks, a pivoted pawl on said slide engaging with one of said toothed wheels upon each operation of said slide, said pawl being rigid during the movement of said slide in one direction and'rockable during such movement in the opposite direction.

16. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and carrying film engaging and moving means, said slide acting to wind the film during its downward movement only, a counter mechanism on said'support including two toothed wheels, countersunk bearings in said support for said wheels, a pawl pivoted to said slide and lying in the path 7 of one of'said toothed wheels whereby upon path of one of said toothed wheels whereby upon downward movement of said slide, said wheel will be partially rotated, said pawl being rigid upon the downward movement of said slide and rockable upon the return movement thereof.

18. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and carrying film engaging and moving means, said slide acting to wind the film during its downward movement only, a counter mechanism on said support including two toothed wheels, countersunk bearings in said support for said wheels, a pawl pivoted to said slide and lying in the path of one of said toothed wheels whereby upon downward movement of said slide, said wheel will be partially rotated, said pawl being rigid upon the downward movement of said slide and rockable upon the return movement thereof, and an elongated tooth rotatable withthe first toothed wheel and engageable with said second toothed wheel upon each complete revolution of said first wheel:

19. A film winding mechanism for cameras comprising a support, a slide guided thereon and carrying filmengaging and moving means, said slide acting to .wind the film during its downward movement only, a

counter mechanism on said support including two toothed wheels, countersunk hearings in said support for said wheels, a pawl pivoted to said slide and lying in the path of one of said toothed wheels whereby upon downward movement of said slide, said wheel will be partially rotated, Said pawl being rigid upon the downward movement of said slide and rockable upon the return movement thereof, and an elongated tooth rotatable with the first toothed wheel and engageable with said second toothed wheel upon each complete revolution of said first wheel, and spring means normally urging said pawl to tooth engaging position. I 1

' I LElV W. LESSLER.

CARL A. BORNMANN. 

